Reunion engineered for group’s 50th anniversary

Prego restaurant was proud to host the 50th reunion for the Aden Veterans 24 Field Squadron Royal Engineers.

The group has been working tirelessly over the past 18 months to contact as many of its squadron as possible.

It managed to gather 32 members, along with their partners, for a reunion.

It has been 50 years since many of the group have seen or heard from each other. The night was one to remember with £152 being raised for the Help for Heroes charity.

Tony Sanders, from the group, explained the work the squadron did in Yemen.

“We deployed to the Aden Protectorate in 1964, first to ANZ10 camp Little Aden, where we continued the construction of the camp,” he said.

“Three troops were deployed to the Radfan to set up an initial camp for the rest of the squadron to join them. Our task was the onward construction of the Dhala Road.

“Our base was Al Milah about half a mile from Aran Village and fort.

“We also commenced the building of an airfield.”

One of the duties was to sweep for mines along a wadi bed early morning, when convoys from Aden were coming to resupply up-county units.

Mr Sanders and Eric Whitla, along with local labour workers, were in the rear of a three ton Commer tipper that struck a MK7 Anti-Tank mine, just off the Dhala road. Mr Sanders suffered a serious injury to his left arm and was airlifted from the scene to Khormaksar Beach Hospital.

The main camp at Al Milah, where the squadron was based, also came under attack.

Trending

14-year-old boy had sex with young girl

Man appears in court over violent disorder incident in Brighouse

Good Times: From Specsavers to cocktail bar

Police notify missing man's family after body found in water in Brighouse